November 19, 2024 — In celebration of American Education Week, the National Center for Teacher Residencies believes in recognizing the contributions of those who may go unnoticed for the work and talent they bring to classrooms. One impactful role that comes to mind are teacher residents. We are shining a spotlight on teacher residents’ passion and contributions to the field of education by amplifying the real voices and stories of teacher residents across the United States.
Meet Edwine Corvil, Teacher Resident
Delaware State University
How did you come to find out about the teacher residency program?
I found out about this teacher residency program from a director that came to one of my classes one day and was telling me and my classmates about this opportunity.
Why did you decide to take part in the program?
I decided to take part in this program because I saw that it was a great experience to get my foot in the door of how a school year will be from the beginning of the school year until the end of the year. Being able to go through and be there in the classroom, I feel as if it is a great experience, and I am part of building these students that I teach so they will be able to take that knowledge on with them once they leave me and my mentor teacher.
How has being part of the program contributed to your life?
This program has contributed to my life because it has allowed me to be able to be in the classroom and be more involved with my students that I currently have in the classroom. It is allowing me to build those relationships with not only my students but with the community that I am in and the other teachers that are in my school district. I also think that being able to see firsthand some of the changes that are happening with education right now and how the teachers are dealing with it. Teachers are trying their best to be able to help their students the best way that they can based on what they are given. I see the way that my mentor teacher is always willing to advocate for our students in our classroom and make sure that they are getting the help and tools that they need so that they can be successful in their education.
What does teaching mean to you?
What teaching means to me is I want to be able to give back to my community and change my future students’ lives with what I have to offer. I grew up in a Haitian cultural background and English is my second language. Going through school, I had to learn and adapt to this brand new language to be successful. Growing up I did not always have teachers who showed me that they cared about my education and wanted to see me succeed, but I did have some special teachers who pushed me and showed me that they cared about my education and saw that I could be successful even when I did not quite believe in myself. They would always encourage me and let me know that I was worth it and that I could do anything I put my mind to. Having those teachers always encouraging me and showing up when it mattered made me feel like I was able to do anything. To this day I am still very close to those teachers. They are always checking up on me and my journey through college and life. It makes me happy that they always check in and they treat me like family. I am grateful for them pursuing a career in education because I want to be the person for my future students just like my teachers were for me. I want to change a child’s life like mine was changed when I met those teachers.
What are you looking forward to most upon completion?
What I am looking for most after completion is being able to have a career as a teacher and being able to have my own classroom where I will change the lives of students and inspire them to want to learn. I want to be able to walk into my future classroom and be happy teach the upcoming generation; to love, change, and build on their knowledge. I want to show my future students that they can accomplish anything that they put their minds to because I was once them and I am here to make sure that they are in the best and safest environment to have the ability to learn.
We invite you to read more stories of teacher residents from our NCTR Network teacher residency programs.
Photo provided by Delaware State University